For college grads, one of the more important factors that are used to help calculate the amount you pay for auto insurance is where you choose to live in Tampa. Larger areas will most likely have higher rates, whereas areas that tend to be more rural have the luxury of cheap car insurance rates.
The next table ranks the highest-priced places in Florida for college graduates to buy an auto insurance policy in. Tampa is ranked at #7 with an annual rate of $2,636 for coverage, which is approximately $220 monthly.
| Rank | City | Average Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hialeah | $3,523 |
| 2 | Miami | $3,273 |
| 3 | Miami Gardens | $3,181 |
| 4 | Miami Beach | $3,043 |
| 5 | Miramar | $2,709 |
| 6 | West Palm Beach | $2,705 |
| 7 | Tampa | $2,636 |
| 8 | Pompano Beach | $2,595 |
| 9 | Hollywood | $2,552 |
| 10 | Fort Lauderdale | $2,550 |
| 11 | Davie | $2,548 |
| 12 | Coral Springs | $2,499 |
| 13 | Pembroke Pines | $2,481 |
| 14 | Brandon | $2,322 |
| 15 | St. Petersburg | $2,263 |
| 16 | Clearwater | $2,194 |
| 17 | Spring Hill | $2,102 |
| 18 | Orlando | $2,069 |
| 19 | Jacksonville | $2,040 |
| 20 | Port St. Lucie | $1,975 |
| 21 | Lakeland | $1,883 |
| 22 | Cape Coral | $1,860 |
| 23 | Palm Bay | $1,803 |
| 24 | Tallahassee | $1,748 |
| 25 | Gainesville | $1,696 |
| Find Cheaper Insurance Go | ||
Prices are approximated as the specific area where the vehicle is garaged can influence premiums noticeably.
Deciding which company offers the lowest-priced insurance rates for college graduates will involve more time in order to find coverage that fits your budget. Every insurance provider has a unique approach to establish rates, so we need to take a look at the insurance companies that tend to have lower prices in Tampa, FL.
Find the Cheapest Car Insurance for Grads
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $957 |
| 2 | Electric | $1,746 |
| 3 | Amica | $1,764 |
| 4 | Progressive | $1,829 |
| 5 | Travelers | $1,869 |
| 6 | Allied | $1,926 |
| 7 | Mercury | $1,973 |
| 8 | Esurance | $2,040 |
| 9 | State Farm | $2,110 |
| 10 | Auto-Owners | $2,149 |
| 11 | GEICO | $2,150 |
| 12 | Allstate | $2,317 |
| 13 | 21st Century | $2,445 |
| 14 | Windhaven Insurance | $2,653 |
| 15 | MetLife | $2,900 |
| 16 | Safeco | $2,927 |
| 17 | Hanover | $2,964 |
| 18 | Liberty Mutual | $3,101 |
| 19 | United Automobile | $3,422 |
| 20 | Direct General | $3,942 |
| Get Personalized Rates Go | ||
USAA generally has some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Tampa at around $957 annually. Electric, Amica, Progressive, and Travelers also qualify as some of the more affordable Tampa, FL car insurance companies.
As the example above demonstrates, if you are currently insured with Electric and switched to USAA, you might achieve an annual savings of about $789. Policyholders with Amica might save as much as $807 a year, and Progressive insureds might cut rates by $872 a year.
To find the cheapest coverage for you, click here to get a free quote or visit any of the companies below.
Bear in mind that those estimates are averages for all ages of drivers and types of vehicles and do not factor in an exact location for college graduates. So the auto insurance company that can offer you the best price may not even be in the top 21 companies in the list above. That helps illustrate why you need to compare rates from as many companies as possible using your own personal information and vehicle type.
The car, truck, or SUV that needs insurance is one of the largest factors when quoting affordable coverage for college graduates. Vehicles with higher performance, poor safety ratings, or a history of substantial liability claims will cost substantially more to insure than safer models.
The list below showcases insurance premiums for a handful of the more affordable vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLS 2WD | $1,841 |
| Ford Explorer XLT 4WD | $2,065 |
| Honda Odyssey EX | $2,133 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 4WD | $2,154 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $2,176 |
| Toyota RAV4 Limited 2WD | $2,186 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LT | $2,216 |
| Ford F-150 STX Regular Cab 2WD | $2,318 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,330 |
| Chevrolet Equinox LTZ AWD | $2,337 |
| Kia Optima LX | $2,330 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan CV | $2,364 |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE Crew Cab 2WD | $2,373 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $2,447 |
| Honda Accord EX-L 2-Dr Coupe | $2,484 |
| Dodge Ram 2500 Mega Cab SLT 4WD | $2,527 |
| Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sport Islander Package 4WD 4-Dr | $2,582 |
| Compare Rates Now Go | |
Cost estimates assume single female driver age 40, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Florida minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, multi-vehicle, claim-free, and safe-driver. Price estimates do not factor in specific location which can affect coverage rates significantly.
Looking at the numbers, we can expect models like the Ford Escape, Ford Explorer, and Honda Odyssey are some of the most economical vehicles to insure for college grads.
The example below illustrates how your choice of deductibles can impact insurance premiums when researching cheap insurance for college graduates. The price estimates are based on a single male driver, comp and collision included, and no discounts are applied.
The chart above illustrates that a 40-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $462 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible up to a $500 deductible, or save $696 by switching to a $1,000 deductible. Even younger insureds, like the age 20 example, can save $1,550 or more by choosing a larger deductible amount.
If you do raise deductibles, it is necessary to have plenty of discretionary funds to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense associated with higher deductibles.
Violations and accidents raise rates
The common sense way to score affordable insurance rates for college grads is to be a careful driver and avoid getting tickets or having accidents. The chart below demonstrates how citations and accidents can influence insurance rates for different insured age categories. The costs are based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, $100 deductibles, and no discounts are applied.
The data in the chart shows the average cost of car insurance in Tampa per year with a clean driving record and no accidents is $2,272. Receive two speeding tickets and the average cost swells to $3,151, an increase of $879 each year. Now throw in one accident along with the two speeding tickets and the yearly cost of insurance for college graduates goes up to an average of $4,033. That’s an increase of $1,761, or $147 per month, just for being a careless driver!
How to find a good Tampa insurance company
Picking the right insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many different companies insure vehicles in Florida. The ranking information below can help you choose which car insurance companies you want to consider when comparing insurance rates for college graduates.
These ratings are only comprised of companies that write coverage in many states, so smaller companies that only insure vehicles in Florida are not taken into consideration for this list. To compare prices from these top insurers and more, click here.
Top 10 Major Car Insurance Companies in Tampa Ranked by Claims Service
- Travelers
- Nationwide
- Allstate
- State Farm
- Liberty Mutual
- GEICO
- American Family
- Esurance
- Titan Insurance
- AAA Insurance
Top 10 Major Car Insurance Companies in Tampa Ranked by Value
- Mercury Insurance
- Travelers
- American Family
- AAA Insurance
- Safeco Insurance
- Progressive
- The Hartford
- The General
- 21st Century
- Esurance
How to find cheaper auto insurance for college graduates
It is possible to find better rates, and here are a few thrifty suggestions that can help you get more affordable car insurance.
- At-fault accidents can raise rates significantly
- Just one traffic violation will increase your rates
- Don’t waste money on full coverage for older vehicles
- Vehicles with good safety ratings are usually cheaper to insure
- Increase the comprehensive and collision deductibles on your policy
- Increase your credit score
- Shop around for cheaper rates regularly
The last tip in the list is particularly important, as was stressed in this article. Auto insurance rates fluctuate constantly, so you should be ready to buy from a different company if a more affordable price is available. Staying with the same car insurance company is fine, but it’s not recommended if that devotion results in you overpaying hundreds of dollars a year. It takes less than five minutes to compare prices and find cheaper insurance for college graduates in Tampa.
If you would rather have the advice of a professional agent when trying to find the best insurance rates for college graduates, the professional agents shown below are willing to answer your questions and help you decide which insurance coverage will be best for you. To locate a Tampa auto insurance agent by location nearest to you, click the button following the list.
- Mike Foley – State Farm Insurance Agent
3704 W Swann Ave – Tampa, FL 33609 – (813) 289-7888 - GEICO Insurance Agent
2703 W Kennedy Blvd – Tampa, FL 33609 – (813) 259-1142 - GreatFlorida Insurance – Bill Sullivan
10353 Cross Creek Blvd Suite C – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 994-1143 - E J Ferro Insurance Agency
Tampa, FL 33647 – Tampa, FL 33647 – (813) 926-1515